Children's Minister Marie Eagle has announced measures to improve safety on school buses in Northern Ireland.

Children's Minister Marie Eagle has announced measures to improve safety on school buses in Northern Ireland.

The minister said funding has been made available for more than 100 new buses which will have seat belts fitted.

The minister said funding has been made available for more than 100 new buses which will have seat belts fitted.

Ms Eagle said she hoped the investment would help phase out the problem of pupils standing on school buses.

Ms Eagle said she hoped the investment would help phase out the problem of pupils standing on school buses.

NI Children's Commissioner Barney McNeaney said while he welcomed the move, the same standards should apply on all bus services.

NI Children's Commissioner Barney McNeaney said while he welcomed the move, the same standards should apply on all bus services.

"We feel that there are other things we would like to see happen," he said.

"We feel that there are other things we would like to see happen," he said.

"We will be pressing the minister to continue to look at the issues we have identified, not least the complex issue that there is between children using scheduled services to get to school as well as the education and library board buses."

"We will be pressing the minister to continue to look at the issues we have identified, not least the complex issue that there is between children using scheduled services to get to school as well as the education and library board buses."

Mr McNeaney said the same standards should apply to all bus services

Ms Eagle said the government would provide Translink with money to buy 110 single deck buses which would be commissioned especially for school use.

Ms Eagle said the government would provide Translink with money to buy 110 single deck buses which would be commissioned especially for school use.

"These new buses will have seat belts and that will enable us to put an end to the routine practice of children having to stand on the way to school."

"These new buses will have seat belts and that will enable us to put an end to the routine practice of children having to stand on the way to school."

'Priority'

Keith Moffatt from Translink welcomed the news and said safety was a priority.

Keith Moffatt from Translink welcomed the news and said safety was a priority.

"The aim is to try and fit seat belts to dedicated school buses over the course of the coming years linked with our replacement bus programme," he said.

"The aim is to try and fit seat belts to dedicated school buses over the course of the coming years linked with our replacement bus programme," he said.

"So as we purchase new buses in the future for our Ulsterbus fleet, we will be equipping those with seat belts."

"So as we purchase new buses in the future for our Ulsterbus fleet, we will be equipping those with seat belts."

Eleanor Gill, chief executive of the General Consumer Council NI said that the council had been campaigning for a long time for better and safer transport for the 100,000 children who are travelling to school each day.

Eleanor Gill, chief executive of the General Consumer Council NI said that the council had been campaigning for a long time for better and safer transport for the 100,000 children who are travelling to school each day.

Safety

Safety

"We would like to see the abolition of the three-for-two rule, which allows for three children to sit in a space for two people," she said.

"We would like to see the abolition of the three-for-two rule, which allows for three children to sit in a space for two people," she said.

"We would also like to see the abolition of standing on buses which we feel adds to lack of safety, overcrowding and which can lead to poor behaviour and bullying.

"We would also like to see the abolition of standing on buses which we feel adds to lack of safety, overcrowding and which can lead to poor behaviour and bullying.

"Above all, we want to see the phased introduction of seat belts on buses to ensure that our children are not an accident waiting to happen."

"Above all, we want to see the phased introduction of seat belts on buses to ensure that our children are not an accident waiting to happen."

In June, a University of Ulster report into school transport in Northern Ireland found pupils did not feel safe.

In June, a University of Ulster report into school transport in Northern Ireland found pupils did not feel safe.

It also said children were worried about the lack of seat belts on buses and recommended stopping three children sitting on a seat designed for two people.

It also said children were worried about the lack of seat belts on buses and recommended stopping three children sitting on a seat designed for two people.

The report, "Safer Journeys to School" was jointly funded by the Northern Ireland Children's Commissioner, the Department of Regional Development and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.

The report, "Safer Journeys to School" was jointly funded by the Northern Ireland Children's Commissioner, the Department of Regional Development and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.